Device for detonating explosives in oil wells



L. H. KALTENBERGER DEVICE FOR DE'IONATING EXPLOSIVES IN OIL WELLS Filed June 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

y 9, 1950 L. H. KALTENBERGER 2,506,336 DEVICE FOR DETONATING' EXPLOSIVES IN OIL WELLS Filed June 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9, 1950 DEVICE Fon DETONATING EXPLOSIVES 1N on. WELLS Lloyd H. Kaltenlrerger, Breckenridge, Tex. Application June 10, 1947, Serial No. 753,628

1 Claim. (Cl. 102-20) This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in apparatus for detonating high explosives in oil wells and the like of which the following is a specification.

In devices heretofore known or used for detonating high explosives in oil wells, the only control of the explosive force was obtained by loading the hole above the charge with gravel, cement, or water. In the present invention, however, loading the hole is unnecessary because the device shapes the explosive so that most of the force is expended perpendicular to the bore hole. Since this is true, the shattering effect in the formation will be much greater for the same amount of charge used than if the direction of the force is uncontrolled. A

The primary objector this invention resides in the provision of a detonating apparatus of the character set forth which is'adapted to control the explosive force by shaping the high explosive charge.

Another object of this invention lies in the pro vision of a detonating apparatus as described ,which facilitates the handling and loading of the explosives in the well and which reduces the cost and increases the safety of well blasting operations.

Still further improvements and advantages of this invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art and science when the following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section of the guide block.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section of a charge secured to said block.

Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section'of a modified charge loading arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a second modification of a charge loading means in vertical section.

Fig. 7 is a bottomplan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the charge as loaded'in Figs. 6 and 7.

I wish it to be understood that I contemplate any and all modifications of this invention relative to-size, shape, materials used, and general characteristics which fall within the scope of theappended claim.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred and modified forms of this invention, and in which like numerals and nates an elongated cylindrical carrier guide of a molded plastic or other suitable material and the upper end of said block is provided centrally with an extended, externally threaded, circular projection I. The guide block A is provided with a channelway 2 extending centrally throughout the block and the projection I permitting an electrical cable B to be inserted therethrough. An internally threaded bell cap 3 is carried about the cable B and is adapted to be securely threaded over the projection I to clamp the cable cover 4 in place between the cap and the projection to position said guide block on said cable to permit the coordinated vertical movement thereof.

Following from Fig. 2, which illustrates the preferred method of loading the charge to the guide block, the lower outer circumference of the guide block A is provided with threads 5 extending for a spaced distance upward thereabout. A fiat circular container 6, provided with an internally threaded flange 1 projecting symmetrically thereabove, is secured to the underside of the guide block by the secure engagement of said threaded flange with the guide block threads 5. The container 6 is provided with an inner wall 8 about its circumference formed in an inwardly projecting V.

The container is loaded within the inner wall 8 with a high explosive 0, preferably in a plastic form, and an'aperture 9 centrally disposed in the upper wall of the container, and coinciding with the channel 2 in the guide block A, permits a detonator D to be inserted from the channel 2 intothe center of the plastic explosive C.' The detonator D is electrically tied to the cable B as at l0.

It may now be seen that the guide block may be easily and quickly lowered into the well to lettersindicatesimilar parts throughout, A desigas place the explosive charge in the desired position.

After the charge has been lowered to the proper place in the bore hole, a switch is thrown, putting enough voltage across the terminal of the 1 detonator to detonate it. This in turn detonates the plastic explosive from the center toward the rim of the disc. It is apparent from the drawing that the explosion will reach the apex of the air space at the vertical center of the charge before it reaches the outside corners of the air space. This force then inverts so that it hits the bore hole in the shape of a wedge and will drive much farther back into the formation than if the same charge is not shaped and controlled.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the lower end of the guide block is a flat ter- 2,soa,sae

mlnation and a circular tray 20, having inwardly projecting V-shaped walls 2| formed within its outer circumference, and a raised central hub 22, is secured upwardly beneath the lower end of the Guide block by a plurality of studs 23 projecting upwardly through the hub into the guide block.

The circular tray is loaded with a preferably plastic explosive 24 and the hub is provided centrally with an aperture coinciding with the channel! of the guide block permitting the cable B cable B as described in the previous forms.

In this form a circular passage opens horizontally from the outer circumference of the illustrated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 illustrates the guide block A and the channel 2 carrying the guide block inward to meet the channel 2, and the outer end of said passage is threaded as at 3| for a spaced distance inward to the block.

An externally threaded tube 32 having one open end and a guide opening 33 centrally disposed in the second end, is loaded with a high explosive 34, of preferably plastic form, with a V-shaped indentation formed inwardly therein from the open end.

The tube is threaded, closed end inward, into the passage 30 to bring a detonator 35 horizontally disposed therein, and tied to the cable B, into an extending position through the opening 33 into the plastic explosive 34 for the same purposes as herein described,

Having thus described and explained the construction and function of this invention what I desire to claim in Letters Patent is:

An oil well explosive detox: ating means of the character described, comprising an elongated cylindrical guiding carrier, a circular externally threaded projection formed on the upper end of the carrier, external threads for a spaced distance upward from the lower end of said carrier, a fiat circular container embodying spaced disclike inner and outer walls and a circumferential outer wall connecting the peripheries of the disclike members, an internally threaded flange extending from one end of the flat circular container and cooperating with said carrier threads in securing the container to one end of said carrier, an inwardly disposed V-shaped ring member providing an inner wall formed circum terentially with said container, the outer edges of said V-shaped ring member resting against the inner surfaces of said disc-like members, a detonator contacting explosives carried within said container, a threaded cap secured to the circular projection, an electrical circuit wiring extending axially through said carrier tying to said detonator, and a cable cover clamped between the end of the extension and cap, securing the cable against movement with respect to the carrier. LLOYD H. KALTENBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,832,132 Lanier Nov. 17, 1931 2,031,505 Rison Feb. 18, 1936 2,238,939 Lewis et a1. Apr. 22, 1941 2,250,056 Alexander July 22, 1941 2,399,211 Davis et a1 Apr. 30, 1946 2,407,093 Mohaupt Sept. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 113,685 Australia Aug. 14, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES The Shaped Charge, by Torrey, in The Explosives Engineer. July-August 1945. Pages through 163. 

